GIVE US BARABBAS!

(Note: When taking the photo, I was unable to prevent glare on the painting, thus making the right side appear lighter than the left. Whenever I send a photo to my oldest son he suggests I take a class in photograpy!)

Painting by: Sharon M. Cunningham

A couple of weeks ago our pastor asked artists in our church to create paintings of six people who played significant roles during Christ's trial and crucifixion. My wife, Sharon, was given the assignment to paint her impression of Barabbas and to write up a short interpretation of her thoughts concerning the painting.

The size of the painting was to be 10" x 20". A photo was to be taken of the painting to be projected on the screen in our sanctuary.

The size and shape of the painting made it difficult to depict a person, as normally people are shown from a vertical position. Therefore, Sharon chose to show only Barabbas's face and hands.

As I have looked at the painting and studied a few Scripture verses in which his name is mentioned some thoughts have come to mind.

Looking at him in the context of his own generation he was a robber, an insurrectionist, and a murderer. Under Roman law anyone of these crimes could be punishable by death.

In Matthew 27:16 (KNJV) he is described as a notorious prisoner. This would mean that he was well known for some undesirable feature, quality, or act. In other words the priests and the people were well aware of how vile he was.

Both Mark 16:7 and Luke 23:19 go into more detail about him. They described him as an insurrectionist and a murderer. He had been involved in rebellion and armed conflict with the Romans. He was also guilty of murder. Yet the crowd still wanted him released rather than Jesus, an innocent man.

In John 18:40 Barabbas is described as a robber. He was one who took the property of others by force or violence. Clearly, he has an infamous past!

Imagine his astonishment, as he sits in his prison cell, in the shadow of the cross, and hears the crowd outside shouting, "Give us Barabbas!"

The scriptures I quoted above give us the first and only picture we ever see of Barabbas. We don't know if he repented and became a follower of Jesus. Did he quickly disappear into the crowd? Did he rise up once again against Rome? Eternity alone will declare his fate.

When we paint the picture of a man such as Barabbas we may be inclined to become comfortable with what good people we are. We would never do such things! Yet when we hold our lives up before our righteous Lord and Savior how far short we fall from his plan for our lives. For we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Romans 3:21-26. "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God which is through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth to be a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."

During this Easter season I hope that, unlike the crowd who chose Barabbas, each one of us will choose Jesus. For we are justified through faith in Him.

Hugs, Christ's and my love

Don E. Cunningham, Author ©2/11/08 682

Barabbas%20or%20Jesus.%20-%202.docx